Book Review: It Happens For A Reason by Preeti Shenoy

I am very fond of Preeti Shenoy, one of the most popular writers of India. I look forward to her blogposts. Not just for her writing but for her extremely positive attitude towards life and her creativity. And, it reflects in her writing. She never fails to entertain.

I really...really liked her first novel Life is What You Make it and I loved “The One You Cannot Have” ! With her latest book It Happens For a Reason which I finished reading recently, I had a different experience.

‘It Happens For A Reason’ (Published by Westland Books) revolves around a single mother Vipasha who left her career as a successful model to give birth to her son at nineteen (When every single person in her life was against, even the father of the child), and her fifteen year-old son Aryan. Vipasha has two unusual careers. She runs Paw-Factor, a boarding for dogs and is a part-time gym instructor.  

Her best friend Suchi tries to set a perfect man for her but Vipasha develops a secret feeling for Saurabh, a veterinary doctor, and a little different as a person. And then, out of the blue, Ankush, her boy friend and Aryan’s father (Whom she never married) arrives after sixteen long years.

This certainly is going to change Vipasha’s and Aryan’s life. How? You’ll have to read this book to know.

The best thing about Preeti Shenoy’s stories is her strong female protagonists. Be it Ankita from Life is what you make it or Nisha from Tea for two and a piece of cake or Vipasha in It happens for a reason. They don't whimper. They fight. They live!

I have read all the books by Preeti Shenoy and liked them all, and I find it odd to point out few things that didn’t work for me in this book.

The book starts off really well but then slips into a flashback. The teenage romance of Ankush and Vipasha is not very interesting as the past is pretty clear from the blurb, and readers already know what has happened. I was more interested in what was about to come but the flashback was a bit lengthy. But, after the flashback is over, the story picks up and makes an engrossing read.

Mention of love making at the crucial stage, when the story is about to take a final turn, is not justified at all.  For me, it acted acted as a rude brake when I was moving smoothly with the story.

I wanted to know more about Saurabh but found his exit abrupt, and felt bad for him.

It was a tad disappointing to spot proofread errors in Preeti Shenoy’s book.

But, as I said that Preeti Shenoy never fails to entertain, this book overall makes an interesting read. Especially the second half. It is gripping that you'd want to finish it in a go. Characters and situations are again relatable and very well sketched. Narration is relaxed as always. The mother-son relationship is beautifully expressed. The author defines Friendship wonderfully!

Preeti Shenoy is a wonderful story teller and if you are a book lover you must read her books. You can pick this book any day. It will entertain you for sure!

Book Source: Personal Copy